Category: Business

With so many businesses sprouting every now and then, there are only some that thrive and stand out. Across several industries, such as healthcare, education, and technology, there are startups and aspiring entrepreneurs that continue to race to the top.

The Proverbial Race to the Top

This proverbial race to the top is actually comprised of small steps that separate mediocre businesses from businesses that truly provide value. A great example that we will be discussing in this post in SingleCare, which strives to have made its way as one of the quickest-growing healthcare discount company.

What are some lessons we can learn from SingleCare? From their business model to their ability to identify a need, we will be looking into the factors that make their company successful.

4 Business Lessons You Should Learn From SingleCare

1. SingleCare focused on an evergreen need

The single most important principle of building a business is to find an evergreen need. What is an evergreen need? These are industries in which people are increasingly investing in, which shows that it is a necessity. Industries such as health, agriculture, education and other evergreen businesses are always needed, which means the demand will not be seasonal. There are no signs of slowing down.

SingleCare was able to establish themselves in the health industry, which is a need that people can’t do without. Thus, their company continuously grew to have 50,000 members and counting.

The quickest way to grow a business is finding an industry where there is a constant demand. What are the things that people can’t do without? What are the things that people consume regularly? This can be a great starting point for an entrepreneur.

2. SingleCare understood the problem within their industry

What counts as a problem in the current industry that your business is in? The purpose of businesses is to either provide value by entertaining or solving a problem in a particular topic.

SingleCare aims to solve the problem of medical and healthcare costs that people acquire when they try to have doctor visits and buy prescription drugs. As they tried to solve this problem, they provided an opportunity for people to save money without spending the time to manually search for pharmacies that offer such discounts in their local area. For example, people can easily find an Estrace discount by simply searching for the term in the prescription drug discounts. People who are looking for this specific drug can get an Estrace discount from a pharmacy nearby. This solves a vital problem which is important to convert into a business’ value.

To be an effective business owner, you don’t blindly create a product without solving a particular problem. If you do this, there will be no demand, and there is no use for people to try out your offers. Finding a critical problem in your industry is important to keep the market demand flocking to your business.

3. SingleCare bridged the gap between businesses and consumers

SingleCare can be considered working as a B2C (business to customer) and B2B (business to business model). They have essentially bridged the gap between the consumers who are looking for cheap medical products and services, and they have consolidated a database of clinics and pharmacies who are offering these high-quality but affordable offers.

This is another important characteristic that a business is trying to solve. It should aim to bridge the gap between two parties, providing a mutual benefit for both. This is the reason why SingleCare quickly grew because not only did it target a high-demand industry, it also gave a way for consumers to easily access coupons for their needs.

As an entrepreneur, you have to think of a way to create a platform that bridges the gap between the people who can benefit from your idea. By making things easier, you will find consumers and businesses who are ready to pay for your products and services.

4. SingleCare leveraged technology to make things convenient for all stakeholders

One of the most prominent features of SingleCare is the video doctor visits. It is a great way to connect what technology has to offer to provide convenience for the people.

Through the use of video doctor visits, people can easily save as much as 60% compared to urgent care which can peak to $145 per session. Regular video doctor consultations in SingleCare only costs $45 as a member.

The business lesson in this example is understanding how you can integrate technology with your processes and making it convenient for your consumers.

As you consider these business lessons from SingleCare, you might be able to find your own entrepreneurial gold mine. By staying within an evergreen need, solving a critical problem, as well as making use of technology will help you achieve success in creating a profitable business.

Bitcoin is the original blockchain and the most influential of all the cryptocurrencies. However, it is not an end all cryptographic solution. Smart contracts illustrate this from the excitement they garnered. It also shows that the industry is in its early development stages. Some projects are already innovating the future by facilitating the integration and cross-platform features that aid in blockchain networking. There will be a lot of fine tuning before mass adoption occurs. Now is the time to establish an edge over the competition by discerning which are the best applications in one blockchain over another.

Bitcoin’s proof-of-work is considered overly conservative by some of the newer proof-of-stake blockchains. The Lightning Network is an example of how businesses can prepare now for the advent of stable Bitcoin prices. It speeds transactions while easing the workload on miners. The ability to perceive is important in this industry. Often times a blockchain will discuss what it hopes to achieve, rather than, what it can deliver now.

Investment Attitudes in a Volatile Market

Saleh Stevens says that new crypto investors need to watch out for getting too personally attached to their investments. The main reason for this is the volatility of the cryptocurrency market. For Bitcoin investors, volatility is lessened but remains high compared to traditional investments, at least in the short term. Bitcoin still comprises nearly half of the crypto market. This is an advantage over initial coin offerings (ICO) new to the industry. As the first of its kind, it is seen as a conservative investment compared to other coins.

Overall, attitudes toward crypto investing means taming emotions. This is why the idiom HODL, “hold on for dear life” became so popular in the crypto space. It is important to HODL amidst FUD, “fear, uncertainty, and doubt”. When analyzing a new ICO, it is prudent to not fall into the trap of FOMO, “fear of missing out”. These idioms demonstrate the business culture needed to survive until the price of Bitcoin stabilizes.

Recognizing the Change in Global Culture

Saleh Stevens discusses the impact Bitcoin is having on global payment systems. A business that uses a stateless digital currency is quite different from its mass adoption. The current global payment network was a long and enduring process. Yes, credit cards have forced change that benefits the shift toward cryptographic transactions, but viability is still lacking. Ironically, the unique crypto platforms, promoted as trustless, might be the biggest obstacle.

Decentralized data and cryptocurrencies are not synonymous terms. Blockchains are not isolated to the financial sector. Medical organizations and governments look to improve the way they use their data. Blockchain technology, not necessarily cryptocurrencies, promises innovative solutions. Many large organizations look to weed out the decentralized aspect so as to reap similar rewards to current projects like Bitcoin.

Embrace the Power of Disruptive Elements

Cryptocurrencies are becoming a lifestyle that investors, like Saleh Stevens, have come to enjoy. It is driving a digital revolution unlike anything is seen before in the business world. Embracing its power will be important as it disrupts key elements of established business practices. Sitting on the sidelines could be the same as stubbornly adhering to outdated practices. That is if ongoing partnerships fail to adopt blockchain technology. On the other hand, early adoption could yield compounded profits during the transition to the blockchain.

Transparency is one aspect that has flourished and fostered innovation. It has earned trust among investors. This trust is different from ICOs that ran away with investors’ money prior to delivering a blockchain. Transparency in a blockchain allows investors, as well as, users to easily see what is happening on a blockchain.

There is another important point here. Users of blockchains are often investors and not just taking part of in transactions. Sometimes investment is necessitated as in a blockchain that requires holding a certain amount in escrow to fuel transactions. Businesses preparing to establish operations in bitcoins would be wise to grasp that they will not be buying a traditional service to what has become customary in cloud computing. Developing an investor mindset will be all but necessary.

The future of cryptocurrencies and distributed databases is not easy to predict. Preparing for an industry where all that is certain is innovation means embracing the technology. While it is not necessary to join the development teams, it is important to grasp how blockchains differ. For business, this pertains to the most useful applications and exploring common use cases. It might be as simple as encouraging customers to embrace the power distributed to them by hosting their own node. This would be especially impressive in the instance that a company has its own blockchain or sidechain. Ultimately, a business must be both open-minded and critical to prosper.

The growth of online advertisements and other digital technologies has greatly curtailed the use of direct mail campaigns, even though the method remains highly effective in reaching new customers and prospects. According to Verified Incorporated, direct mail campaigns are cost effective, easy to create and guarantees maximize gains. The cost-effectiveness of direct mail is denoted by how easy it is to create and run a mail campaign. Businesses can easily take advantage of mass mail rate discounts to save money without eroding the bottom line. It is also easy to create and execute a direct mail strategy because of the availability of advanced desktop publishing tools. There are several web based direct mail programs designed to make it easy for users to design or import mailing list and have the hard copies of the campaigns sent to prospects.

Direct mail is also highly targeted, personalized, versatile and measurable. Direct mails are more personalized and targeted because they can be tailored to speak to particular audiences, from new prospects to return customers. The personal approach means you can target the audience with campaigns customized with the targets name and address. On the other hand, the availability of wide-ranging mailing formats, including catalogs, magazines, brochures and postcards makes direct mail campaigns highly versatile for varied situations. In spite of competition, direct mail campaigns remain a multi billion industry. Law firms can also use the strategy, beginning with a homegrown mailing list. If the law firm is just starting out, the mailing list can be rented or bought from a third-party vendor. When using the direct mail, remember to be sensitive to the state laws and your prospects.

According to Jurisdigital, lawyers who work in states where a 30 day waiting period is observed before contacting accident victims can use direct mail effectively through direct solicitation to the accident victims and those with hospital liens. The other strategy is to directly contact past clients. The process of gathering information for direct solicitation of accident victims begins by reviewing publicly available accident logs or highway patrol information published online. This information can also be sought from third party companies and local newspaper reports. Once the report is found, you need to catalog the name of accident victim, city and state of the accident and contact information if available. Using the data, you can then mail the information related to the accident. If you want to get a positive responses this information should be sent immediately.

Law firms that used this strategy with utmost success often include a pen and along with a handwritten, brief note from the attorney. Cases that involve wrongful deaths and minors are much trickier to deal with using direct mail; for this reason, more research is necessary. When soliciting to those with hospital liens, you can start by establishing a partnership with the local hospitals. The relationship should be founded on the idea that you are helping the hospital collect more money. When the hospital sends or releases the lien letters to the patients, you can take this opportunity to have your law firm, send a direct mail packet with information detailing how you can help. Lastly, contacting current clients through mail is a crucial strategy of growing case loads and referrals as well as strengthening the relationship with your partners. With proper timing, you can effectively send each of your clients a letter or postcard.

Stand out to be counted
A growing number of lawyers are joining Lawyers of Distinction to be counted. The private lawyer vanity and marketing entity has membership in all the 50 states and recognizes over 20 areas of practice, including personal injury, family law and criminal defense. State membership to the elite group is restricted to only 10%. Members who join enjoy several benefits, including having their names published year around in leading online publications and press releases. The other benefits include annual member discount program and the right to use the company’s licensed logo and other promotional materials. As part of its long-term growth strategy, Lawyers of Distinction established a new listing feature in 2018.

The feature allows potential clients to make direct searches for quality representation from among the lawyers listed on the company’s database. At the moment, some 5,000 searches are conducted daily from the directory. This latest addition is important because the company isn’t a lawyer referral service, nor does it allow lawyers to pay premium for greater banner ads, placements and other public pronouncements. According to Law Practice Today, there are close to 1.4 million lawyers practicing in the country and 35,000 new ones entering the workforce every year. The limelight shone to lawyers plus the benefits offered by Lawyers of Distinction have come at a good time owing to the high number of lawyers presently working in the US.

Blogging is an essential part of any marketing plan because it helps attract and engage customers. Recently though, the trend on many blogs is to use longer posts. This extends to social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram too. Short form blog posts still have their place. This article goes over all of the reasons why short-form blogs are a great way to increase business.

Defining Short-Form Blogging

Blog post length is looked at by its word count. For the purposes of business and marketing, long-form blog posts are over 1,000. The typical range is anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 words. This includes blog posts but also white papers, ebooks, guides, and other types of content like videos or webinars. Short-form is a blog post, social media post or list article under 1000 words like those found on WordPress sites. Content here is around 280 words or so on average. But generally, short-form blogging averages around 400-600 words and does not require a lot of critical thinking to understand the material.

When to Use Short Form Content

Short form blogging is ideal when the post does not involve a lot of explanation or context. If you’re blogging about something that people use, do, or encounter on a daily basis, it’s a much better tactic to write a shorter post. The post still excites the customer and lets them get to the product or service at hand without reading long posts. You might also find that these types of posts generate more comments or questions.

Understanding the makeup of your customer base is one way to decide if short form content. If it’s made up of those who are already somewhat familiar with the product or service at hand, it makes sense to have a shorter and tighter post that helps sell your product or service specifically without needing to include background information.

Short form blogging and content creation is also a very good way of crafting a strong message to deliver to the intended audience. It’s more concise with attention to every word. Not to mention, short-form is also easier to read and access on a mobile device, expanding the number of people who might read it.

Tips for Short Form Blog Posts

Just as the strength of short-form blogging is its short length, it’s also a downside. Because short-form blogging is limited to around 400 to 600 words, give or take, every aspect of the post matters. People are also inundated with short-form blog content all the time so it’s vital that the message your business presents stands out from all the rest. Make sure that the short form posts are engaging, thoughtful, and fun. They’re meant to form a connection with your audience.

The important thing to remember is that every post should have meaning and a connection with your business to encourage the reader to connect with the business in return. So what does this translate to for a business owner?

When composing a short post, think about something only you could write about. For best results, keep your target at around 300 words or more so that the search engines will find it. The approach you take is totally up to you. Humorous posts, observations, and answering questions are just some posting ideas. Keep your post simple with easy-to-read formatting and don’t forget to use images. Images are what usually catch a person’s eye first so make sure to use one that’s appropriate for the topic at hand.

Posting consistently is also extremely important when doing short form content. Doing so daily is recommended for maximum reach. If daily isn’t realistic for you, make a schedule for days where you will post and stick with it. If you have a dedicated time set aside for blogging, think about using a part of that time to write several blog posts in a row. Many blogging platforms and social media apps have a scheduling feature so you can set when posts go out.

A Word About Long Form Content

Long-form content has its place and serves to educate or inform people. Short form posts work well for many business types. But don’t forget to include a long form post every once in a while. The top 10 percent of the most shared posts are long form and they actually stick around longer in search engines than shorter posts do. Both posting types need to be of good quality though.

Short form blog posts like those from photographer and blogger Avery Arjang are a great example of how this posting format helps drive business. Avery Arjang writes thoughtful posts that engage her customers.

Although experts generally tend to agree with the idea that location has a great deal to do with the overall efficacy of a marketing campaign, it seems that any kind of causal relationship between location and marketing campaign efficacy would cast serious doubt on the universality of the web. With so few doubting the potency of the internet as a universal marketing tool — one that is poised to shape economic activity on a global scale for the foreseeable future — it raises quite a few questions regarding the nature of the relationship between location and marketing campaign efficacy.

Does Location Influence Marketing Campaign Efficacy?

There is no denying the value of location data, and most would surely agree that it would be worthwhile to add “the right place” to the oft-repeated marketing maxim reminding marketers about the importance of focusing on “the right person, the right message, and the right time.” Although location data is indeed valuable and certainly plays a role in developing a marketing strategy, it certainly does not mean that business location will have any kind of significant impact on the efficacy of a marketing campaign or any of its inherent strategies.

When Does Business Location Matter?

It appears quite likely that the relationship between business location and marketing efficacy is yet another example in which correlation is confused with causation, but, as is often the case, there are a few exceptions to this rule. While the efficacy of the overwhelming majority of marketing campaigns is not necessarily dependent on location, it is indeed the case that location matters when hiring on-site employees or contractors is the principal goal of the campaign.

The Value of Prioritizing Professional Expertise

In all other circumstances, it is the experience and expertise of the professionals involved in developing a campaign that serves as the most critical factor in determining a marketing campaign’s efficacy. With the undeniable universality of the web, business location matters far less than the expertise and creativity of the marketing professionals responsible for designing the campaign and its strategies. Even if the location of the campaign’s origin had any kind of significant impact on its efficacy, any highly qualified marketing professional ought to be more than capable of designing strategies that ensure consumers are unable to sense where an ad campaign might have originated.

Author Bio

Adrian Rubin is a freelance creative director with a decade of experience under his belt. Adrian Rubin believes that marketing is the key component of all businesses, which is why he has been able to stand out from others in his field. To read more informative business articles make sure to check out Adrian Rubin’s blog.

In the fast-growing world of today where the internet is the centre of many transactions, customers demand to enjoy faster implementation on their software products. This has seen many software companies work in parallel on different of their products to enable fixing of bugs found in versions released with additional features. Doing this without a system that organizes activities might turn out difficult and that is why many of these companies are shifting to the agile methodology of testing. If you are in the software industry, you need to understand why you should embrace agile testing for all your processes. Here are top reasons to consider.

Better collaboration
When you bring together a team of architects, developers, and coders to work closely, it means you create more room for communication and coordination. The entire lifecycle of the development process is overseen by all professionals who take part in structuring of the various parts that make the up final product, so having agile testing provides an ample environment where these professionals can work in sync to provide a quality and error-free product. With collaboration, it is faster to implement the various parts of the process and whenever an error comes up the information is logged showing at which point the problem began, which makes debugging easy.

Faster time to market
Using agile testing methodology also provides for quick releases and faster entrance into the market. Through the incremental and iterative models used, experts minimize the overall duration between test requirements and results validation. The result of this is a faster development and testing process, which means software is released to the market without delays. The method works perfectly on a system where the production line is supplied with many requests from different customers.

Cost efficiency
Another benefit of centralizing software testing through the agile method is that the entire system offers resource utilization and minimizes the total cost incurred in the procurement, maintenance, and set-up of software testing. With everything already set for testing, professionals involved are left with quality of the product to worry about.

Since not many processes are required to be done manually, the overall process delivers a cost-effective mechanism of testing, and this translates to timely release of the software in question. Money that could have been used doing patches and hiring more experts to scrutinize the system is spent perfecting the software, and the fact that there is absolutely no requirement to set up the testing environment it allows the company to shift focus to what really matters.

Improved quality
Working through a testing environment means every part of the software is overseen accurately to ensure no bits are erroneous or designed to subpar quality. Every stage of the testing process is concerned about delivering good results and factual information about the possible errors that might make the software unable to serve its purpose, and due to this keen and real-time scrutiny, one is able to produce high quality software.

Focused alignment
Agile testing operates on the basis of offering instant solutions, and this is possible because testers and developers are brought together in a confined environment that allows them to communicate feedback about the software. Testing metrics are submitted in real-time and any errors that arise are logged immediately to be addressed by the respective group of developers. All the focus is pinned to producing a refined product and this means all parties involved in the development and refinement of the software are invited to oversee the flow of the work, and this joint effort makes it possible to come up with creative and efficient solutions.

Companies like Inc. list down the fastest growing companies every year. To feature in this list, only the fastest growing companies manage this prestigious list. Sometimes you wonder how these companies do it. It is natural to be concerned especially if you are an owner or work for an SME. In this article, we will look at some of the key things that separate explosive business from those languishing in mediocrity.

1. Operating at optimal levels

It is sad that most businesses start with the intention to grow, but sometimes the existing team lack the capacity to help the company operate at optimal levels on all fronts. You’ll notice that only through optimal levels can a company generate enough revenue, save on time, utilize its networks or simply recreate itself in times of challenges.

Aaron Minc studied Inc.’s 500 companies and observed that all of them were operating at insane levels of efficiency. When a product development cycle starts and ends within the shortest time possible, it gives marketing and opportunity to bring in the product within the shortest time possible in the market. If the growth strategy was to be ahead of the competition in launching a product, then the strategy works.

2. Fool proofing your value proposition.

Research is the starting point of a proposal. If the company fool proofs its value proposals completely, then the chances of success increase. Sometimes, companies that face hardships are either too lazy or too poor in terms of strategy to be thorough. Out of every three products, they propose, only one hits the market. That means time is wasted, resources stretched, and for no good reason. Only a successfully value proposition separates the winners from the losers.

3. The team and the organizational synergy

Most companies start small with the hope that the future will be bright. However, at a certain time, it is necessary to re-brand, not just physically, but also internally. Some people focus on the physical re-branding forgetting that a re-brand requires human resource supplement. Fortify your human resource accordingly in terms of training, recruitment of quality, and team building. Organizational synergy determines how the team works. Good synergy means improved productivity.

4. Harnessing feedback

In business, they say that a review from one disgruntled customer is equal to a 1000 positive reviews. In short, you cannot let one disgruntled customer feel that you did not have his or her best interest at the heart of your company. Focusing on making a customer satisfied is very important and only those who’ve mastered the art emerge winners every time. Harness feedback from clients, suppliers, and employees; stay ahead of the pack; and purpose to learn from every feedback.

5. Keep up with technology

One mistake that you should never afford to make is to be left behind by technology. If you do, you’ll forever play catch up. If your competitors are ahead, you’ll be at a disadvantage. As a business, you cannot afford to be a late adopter. You must be among the first adopters. Customers have a tendency to trust trendy companies. Always use technology to your advantage. Technology should always be capable of paying for itself. If technology is not bringing any strategic advantage to your business, you can always pass but not if it puts you behind your competition.

To remain on a growth trajectory is a process. If you miss the ropes, then you will always remain redundant and the risk of being phased out becomes a reality. Do not allow your company to go down this path.

Consumer behavior is closely tied to the calendar. People spend more on weekends and holidays, and even world weather events and political milestones can effect what people buy and how much they spend. As a business person you must be tuned into your customer, and this includes knowing how their spending behavior ties into dates on the calendar. One of the first rhythms to get a handle on is the natural up and down flow of spending around holidays. If you sell jewelry, your product is closely tied to holiday spending. Here are five ways that you can take advantage of holiday sales.

1. Facebook Ads That Are Holiday Specific

It is estimated that there are 1.94 billion monthly active Facebook users. 42% of business owners report that Facebook is vital to their business (https://zephoria.com/top-15-valuable-facebook-statistics/). Facebook is a leading social media platform that billions of adults spend time on. A Facebook advertisement that introduces your product as the perfect gift for an upcoming holiday is sure to capture viewers attention. This is especially for the holidays where gift exchange is expected. For example, people will be shopping for gifts in the weeks immediately before Christmas, Mother’s day, and Valentines Day.

2. Offer Holiday Specific Products

Think about ways that your jewelry business can capitalize on holiday spending that might not be traditionally associated with jewelry. Offer Independence Day charms, Memorial Day soldier tag necklaces, or green products for Saint Patrick’s Day.

3. Target Obscure Holidays In Addition To Popular Ones

Think outside the box! Many print on demand jewelry companies can create the designs that you imagine in no time at all! These products could be on your shelves, or filling your eCommerce store in time for holiday traffic. Did you know that January 22nd is “Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day”? Make a pendant with some funny answers, and sell them to cat lovers in the days before this quirky holiday. You could make a funny cat themed Facebook video add, and pair it with your product! This is a simple technique, but could generate valuable sales!

4. Think About Consumer Specific Holidays

Jewelry sellers can also consider offering their clients deals on consumer specific holidays like “Cyber Monday” or “Black Friday”. This shows that a seller is thoughtful about their customers shopping habits. When a person is out spending money already, they are more likely to spend on your product. This could be both virtually, as in they are having a shopping spree online, or in a physical location.

5. Sweeten The Deal

One last way that jewelry sellers can take advantage of holiday sales is to make a deal with their customers. Throw something extra in with the products that you sell, in order to “sweeten the pot”! When it comes to holiday sales, this should be related to the season. For example if you are selling inspired silver angel pennants during the Christmas season, consider what your client is after. They are shopping for Christmas gifts for a person who loves angels, so tempt them with an add on. Your advertising could read, “This inspired silver pendant comes with a free angel ornament and personalized prayer card! Little cost effective touches like this can be just the thing to tip the scales in your favor and entice your customer to buy.

Marketing involves spending money to promote your business. This, in turn, drives business that making you revenue. It, therefore, becomes necessary to get the most bang for your buck. Small business owners can get more out their marketing campaigns by using low-cost strategies that work.

Marketing is also an excellent option to enable you to meet your sales goals. Being proactive about marketing means setting a clear plan that not only guides your efforts but also monitors the results. A thorough market research is used to inform the holistic strategy and vision. Krishen Iyer shares a few low-budget strategies that will grow your business.

• Employ an approach that integrates strong traditional marketing principles with digital strategies. Digital technologies have revolutionized the way businesses market their products. Reference your online address on the offline visibility solutions. This allows you to target your ideal customers in their preferred formats.

• Blogs provide a convenient platform to connect with the millennial generation. It can be used to generate more traffic to your e-commerce site. Blogs by nature are meant to be frequently updated. This increases your search engine rankings. Blogging enables deeper interactions with your ideal customers. A blog should be a core component of your business’ online presence. It provides a real and practical utility that helps build relationships with consumers.

• Take advantage of networking. Most of your clients are using social media. Platforms such as LinkedIn are dedicated to networking. Participate in forums that help promote your business. Create a sustainable social media marketing plan. Respond and tune your campaigns in line with the feedback you receive. A networking plan helps you focus on the target groups that matter. Rich media and practical content are more powerful and cost-effective than adverts.

• Ask for reviews from previous customers. Testimonials demonstrate that other people have used and liked your products. It helps to get famous people to express their opinions about your offerings. People like to belong. They will be attracted to things that they see with other famous people they like. Reviews can be used to augment your online and offline campaigns.

Marketing enables you to actualize your business plan and achieve growth. Find innovative strategies that positively impact your bottom line. Focus on the people you are targeting and position your value offering appropriately.

The digital world is changing fast, which means businesses have to be at their best to experience growth. This rapid change in the industry means business can’t afford to relax if they want to be at par with other players. Here is a list of digital trends to watch to help you remain relevant in 2017.

1. E-commerce re-basing

Re-platforming or re-basing is something that is critical for the survival of e-commerce. It is a very common item for businesses and is done with the aim of increasing efficiency hence enhancing competitive advantage vital in the ever-changing digital marketplace.

Gamification is another digital tool that will be crucial for your business in 2017. This tool can be used to inspire and even motivate people in their workplaces. The technique employs scientific technology to motivate employees through point scoring like in a game, thereby producing a personal challenge.

Rewards for achievement and recognition in this tool can be given in the form of badges and points among others.

3. Mobile compatibility

Mobile phones have become so popular and have emerged as important sources of information for many customers. Now and then, people are faced with mobile moments, times when they use their phones to know about something quickly and accurately. It is up to the marketers to ensure that they are reachable to more people during these moments.

Marketers should ensure that they can engage with potential customers one-on-one using mobile tools. Any marketing strategy that is not compatible with the mobile phones may not give the desired results.

4. Personalization

Personalization is another tool that businesses should maximize on in 2017. This technique allows you to send different messages to different people based on their individual needs instead of sending the same message to all the people.

Many tools available are enabling businesses to predict the shopping behaviors of their customers based on the previous shopping choices. This makes it easy for personalization to make sure that the right messages are sent to the right people.

5. Communication chatbot

Messaging platforms such as Facebook Messenger have conversational tools called bots. A Chatbot is vital as it enhances audio and text communication. Conversational Chatbot enables companies to communicate with their customers easily. As a result, companies are provided with an efficient way to provide customer service.

The tool allows a company to get the feedback on its products from its customers, while the customers have an avenue to file their complaints or confirm details about a product. Every customer wants to associate himself with a company that is there at the hour of need.

Watching digital trends can help you understand the future of your related industry. Martin J. Stallone, an investment management advisor, is one of the managers that have found great inspiration from keeping up with trends.